Better design of menu selection systems through cognitive psychology and human factors

OBJECTIVE: In this study, I seek to emphasize the contributions of cognitive psychology and human factors research in the design of menu selection systems. BACKGROUND: Menu selection systems are used in computer interfaces to allow users to enter choices, set parameters, and navigate to items, functions, and locations. Designers of these systems have many choices concerning the organizational structure and layout of the menu interface. METHOD: I review several of these concerning hierarchies of menus, organization and clustering of items, and item distinctiveness. Special attention is given to cases in which designer's intuition differed from theory and experimental results. RESULT: Cognitive psychology and human factors have contributed both theory and empirical research that have helped to resolve differences of opinion and establish general principles for design. CONCLUSION: It is argued that cognitive psychology has contributed substantially to the design of better menu selection systems. APPLICATION: It is imperative that designers continue to apply these findings to interfaces that they develop and that researchers continue to study the characteristics and efficacy of innovative menu designs as they appear.